Boomers Coffeehouse in Upland to close, evicted by city

UPLAND - After nearly 19 years serving gourmet coffee to its patrons, Boomers Coffeehouse will be closing.

The business at 220 E. A St. will close due to the City Council's decision on Monday to terminate its lease and evict the business due to a consistent lack in rent payments.

"It's been a long great haul. Not very profitable but man, I'm rich," said Lance Bennett, who owns the coffee house with his wife, Gale.

More than a dozen patrons spoke in support of keeping the coffee house open during the council meeting, but after about an hour of discussion the council agreed to go forward with staff's recommendation.

"This should be an ordinary business decision, and it's become a very emotional decision because of friends and customers and people that stop in at Boomers a lot, but apparently not enough," said Councilman Ken Willis.

Bennett said he plans to close in a couple weeks, and there is no plan to relocate.

"We built up this business in this community, which is a tough community right there as far as business-wise, so we'll be doing other things," Bennett said.

Boomers signed a five-year lease with the city in October 2006 to occupy a space in the Santa Fe Depot building next to the Metrolink station.

The city co-owns the building with San Bernardino Associated Governments.

The Bennetts chose not to extend their lease, which expired in 2011, with the hope of selling the business and using the revenue to pay the rent they owed the city.

When they chose not to extend the lease, it was changed to a month-to-month lease, therefore increasing their payments by 150 percent from $1,853 to $2,279.50 per month, according to a city staff report.

The business has made about five rent payments in two years and owes the city nearly $98,000.

"It's extremely difficult as they are a very well-liked family and a family-owned business," said Jeff Zwack, the city's development director, during the meeting.

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, but the decision from staff has to be based on the facts of business sense and what speaks is the lack of rent payments."

The Bennetts requested a rent reduction in 2010, which the city rejected after hiring a third party consultant who determined the rent amount to be in line with the market, according to the staff report.

In December 2011, the city encouraged the Bennetts to meet with an official in the Upland Small Business Development Center to discuss the current business model and determined the feasibility of the Bennetts' son, Lars and his business partner, taking over the business.

Lars Bennett created a new business plan to include sales of craft beer and wine, live entertainment and food in addition to serving coffee.

Earlier this year the council adopted a rent reduction policy for tenants of city-owned properties that are finding it difficult to make their rent payments due to the slow economy.

In order to qualify for the reduction, the business needed to have a current lease, which Boomers did not, as well as provide their financial statements for review by a third party.

In January, the Bennetts submitted a request to re-negotiate their lease as well as a request for a reduction in rent from $1.59 per square foot to $1 per square foot, removal of all interest and penalties on unpaid rent for more than $18,000 as well as funding for building improvements such as construction of a patio deck.

They also asked the city to help facilitate a beer and wine license for the business.

After reviewing their documents and business plan, the third party determined that Boomers was not a good candidate for a lease renewal or expansion.

"We're sorry that the city chose to not help us," Bennett said. "We asked for help three years ago and I guess everything just piled up. The city kept telling us don't worry about the rent we don't want an empty building. We'll put it on the end of the lease."

Bennett said having a city as a landlord has been difficult.

"They didn't say anything. They've been quiet about everything and not forthcoming on any information whatsoever," Bennett said. "We have to ask. We have to sit here and wait to find out they've been charging us $2,800 for the last 10 months."